If I was only turning 18 now, i'd probably have a decision to make.

When I did turn 18 though I couldn't wait to get my first car...

Taxi maybe? :2 cents:

Moscow is overpopulated so you can't avoid it anywhere. The official population here was 11,612,943 on 2012. The unofficial numbers are about 1.5 higher. That means about 10% of Russians live in Moscow.

When I lived in Seattle in the early 90's I didn't own a car for about 2 years. I would rent them about twice a month for bigger trips, but just took the bus/train/cabs.

To be honest, there were some times when it was really cool to no worry about a car, but often I found myself wishing I had one and the inconvenience of not having one drove me nuts. Eventually, the last year I lived up there I ended up getting a car and have had one since.

So glad I can still drive one around one day there will be no room for cars.
want to save on gas http://www.mrhydrogen.com

Not really, just because the US (outside of a few big cities) has got shit public transport.
Doesn't mean the rest of the world has.

Try driving though central London, so much easier to take public transport. My sister still lives there and uses her car about once a month.

If I want to go to my state capital. I could drive for 1/2 hour then fuck about trying to park, or I could take the train that costs less than $2 is brand new and clean, runs every 15 minutes into the center of the city, and takes the same time. Also means when there I can have a beer or two.

When I lived 20 miles outside Amsterdam for a year, the bus took 1/2 hour to get into the center, had its own lane on the road, so you'd fly past all the people sitting in cars in a jam. So again took longer by car.

Central Amsterdam to Central Paris.. quicker by train than driving.

Is it possible that so many people here see car only as a tool for transportation? I work from home, live in center of crowded city but my car is kind of hobby and pleasure I couldn't live with it. Actually , once happened back in 2008 that I didn't have a car for several months and I was completely different person. Mad, helpless and bored. Of course that I could use bus,tram,taxi,metro..whatever but that is not the point. I like to drive, especially during night when there is no so much traffic. I just go and drive. Chose favorite music and enjoy road, city or going out to nature ,driving from restaurants, drive ins, going to river or whatever you want wherever you want, without need to be with other people in public transportation.

Last summer I've went to Greece by car. Sure, I could do it with airplane, bus, train...but it is stupid. I open my roof (it is convertible) and exploring nature. Yes, it costs, but there is no alternative....I am just watching now rain for last several days. I don't even consider to go out to get wet. I will popup into car and go into underground garage of some market and finish what I need comfortably.

I own a SAAB.

Me!

Never learned how !

car is freedom to go anywhere, i definately don't see it as a 'worry'. And i also live near the city center, i can do anything i need to by foot or bicycle, which i also do. But if you want to go somewhere further a car for me is something i wouldn't wanna live without.
I also never take public transportation, I hate it. Misses all the convenience and comfort of a car.

drinking and driving is not too legal so I stay legal :)